Growing Bottle Gourds

GROW YOUR OWN BOTTLE GOURDS (Calabash)

                                  

The bottle-gourd belongs to the cucumber family and originated in Africa, and is now available in most parts of the world. Also known as calabash, bottle squash, white gourd, trumpet gourd, lauki, doodhi, and ghiya in various languages, this vegetable comes in different shapes, the most common being the bottle-shaped (hence the name) and round. The sizes vary from six inches in length to more than six feet. The vegetable has a white pulp, with white seeds embedded in the spongy flesh. Similar to pumpkins in cultivation, they require a sunny, sheltered site, and only a moderately fertile soil. They need plenty of water in the growing season but hate wet feet so avoid very damp soil.  A thriving plant can climb to over 12ft, so they need plenty of room and a solid support. This edible vegetable can also be grown in your kitchen garden by following theses simple steps!

Sowing And Growing

• Till the soil in a straight row to a depth of about 8 inches. Add several inches of organic material, such as compost, manure to add nutrients to the soil, increase drainage and improve structure. 
• Choose a site that receives full sun to partial shade. Wait until mid to late spring to start plants outdoors when the soil temperature is above 70 degrees Fahrenheit; you can start seeds indoors six weeks earlier.
• Gather the soil into 12-inch tall mounds spaced 9 feet apart along the row
• Install a sturdy hog wire trellis along the bottle gourd row. Drive 8-foot metal T-posts two feet into the ground, spaced 16 feet apart, and then attach 4-by-16-foot hog wire panels to the posts with 16-gauge wire. 
• You can install the trellis before planting, if desired, or no later than when the plants reach about 6 inches tall.
• Plant four to five seeds evenly spaced in the mounds and cover with about 1 1/2 inches of soil. Water the mound frequently to keep the soil moist and encourage germination. 
• When seedlings develop two sets of leaves, thin the plants to leave only the single healthiest plant in each mound.
• Water the bottle gourd plants regularly to keep the soil moist so gourds grow large. During periods of summer drought, plants might require daily watering or a minimum of once weekly watering. 
• Reduce watering in late summer after the gourds have developed and wait for the gourds to mature on the vines.
• Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer as a side dressing around the plants every two to three weeks, replacing the regular water supply with water mixed with water-soluble fertilizer. 
• The white flowers will appear in about 60 days after planting.

Harvesting And Storage

• Harvest the gourds in early fall or into late fall, if desired. Bottle gourds tolerate light frost, so you can leave the gourds on the vine much later than other gourds. 
• Pick gourds when young and tender, anywhere from 15-18cm/6-8in long, and keep picking to produce new fruits, just like a courgette plant.
• Cut the gourd from the vine with bypass pruners, leaving an inch or two of stem attached to the top of the gourd.
• They can be stored in the fridge for about a week to ten days but are best eaten fresh. Gourds doesn't freeze well because of the high water content.
• Alternatively you can store gourds to dry in a cool, dry place for several weeks or until they are lightweight with a hard rind. Leave space between the gourds so air can circulate around all sides. When they are dry, you can paint the gourds or drill a 2-inch-diameter hole in one side to make a birdhouse.

Few Health Benefits Of Bottle Gourds

• High in Fiber-  Bottle gourd is not only rich in essential minerals, iron, protein and trace elements; it is also rich in fiber. Fiber helps in preventing constipation and other digestive disorders like flatulence and piles.
• Cures Urinary disorders- Bottle gourd is very valuable in treating urinary disorders. It serves as an alkaline mixture for treating burning sensation in urinary passage due to high acidity of urine.
• Balancing Liver Function- This vegetable is very good for balancing liver function. It is often recommended by physicians when the liver is inflamed and cannot efficiently process food for maximum nutrition and assimilation.
• Bottle Gourd Juice for Diabetics- Bottle gourd is an excellent remedy for the excessive thirst caused by diabetes, diarrhea, and over consumption of fatty foods. A glass of bottle gourd juice with a pinch of salt quenches the thirst, prevents fatigue due to loss of sodium and keeps you refreshed in summers.
• Low in Calories and Fat- The bottle gourd is low in fat and cholesterol yet high in dietary fiber. It contains 96% water and 100gm of it contains around 12 Kcal. It is rich in iron and also has vitamins C and B complex.

Bottle Gourd and Carrot Curry Recipe

Ingredients

• Peeled Bottle gourd – 2 cups finely chopped 
• Carrots – 1 cup chopped
• Onion- 1 chopped
• Tomato – 1 large chopped
• Curry leaves – few
• Ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp
• Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp
• Salt – as per taste
• Curry powder – 2 tsp
• Coconut milk powder 2 tbsps
• Oil – 2 tsps

Method

• Heat pan and add oil, mustard,curry leaves and chopped onion and saute till onions appear light brown in color.
• Then add ginger garlic paste and fry for few more seconds till brown and add chopped carrots and bottle gourd pieces stir well.
• Add curry powder,tomato, coconut milk powder and salt. Mix well and add 2 cups of water and cook till done. Serve Hot.